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. 2025 Jul 3;44(1):234.
doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-00874-7.

Vitamin D status and risk for breast cancer in Kenya

Ronald Wasike  1 , Victor Mobegi  2 , Esther Maina  2 , Francis Makokha  3 , Robert Armstrong  4 , Annastacia Mbithi  5
Affiliations

Vitamin D status and risk for breast cancer in Kenya

Ronald Wasike et al. J Health Popul Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone metabolism, calcium regulation, and various cellular processes, including those linked to cancer. The biologically active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], works through the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR). Polymorphisms in VDR and related genes have been associated with cancer risk, including breast cancer. This case-control study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and breast cancer among Kenyan women.

Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured in 112 breast cancer patients and 106 controls using electrochemiluminescence.

Results: Results indicated that 81.2% of participants had deficient or insufficient vitamin D levels, with controls showing slightly higher sufficient levels compared to cases. Although previous studies suggested an association between higher vitamin D levels and reduced breast cancer risk, our findings revealed no significant link between vitamin D levels and various demographic factors, including BMI.

Conclusion: The study underscores the need for public awareness about vitamin D supplementation and further research to clarify the role of vitamin D in breast cancer development, particularly in populations with widespread vitamin D deficiency.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Vitamin D.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was reviewed and approved by Aga Khan University Ethical Review Committee (ISERC) (Ref No: 2018/Rec-82(v3)) and the KNH-UoN Ethics and Research Committee (Ref No: KNH-ERC/A/378). The study adhered to ethical guidelines throughout its implementation. The research was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (2013), which outlines ethical principles for medical research involving human participants. All participants provided written informed consent before inclusion in the study. For participants unable to provide consent, proxy consent was obtained from legal guardians, as approved by the ethics committee. All data were anonymized to protect participants’ confidentiality and privacy. Personal identifiers were stored separately from the research data and accessed only by authorized personnel. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study participants’ groups
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of obesity among the participants’ groups 5 years ago ρ value = 0.001
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of obesity among the participants’ groups at recruitment ρ value = 0.141
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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